Our Mission
Our mission is to deliver a program that meets the needs of campers with diverse challenges through a summer camp that fills a void in the surrounding communities. We promote social interaction, inclusion and accessibility while challenging our campers to improve skills.
Addressing A Need
Campers who identify as neurodivergent have a large range of needs and require specific programming to create an environment that is fun, safe and stimulating.
As parents, you are looking for summer programming that provides a break from the daily challenges of raising and managing a teenager or young adult with individualized needs
Teenagers with Autism or special needs may have difficulties with:
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Awareness of others and learning from others
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Communication and interaction
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Sensory processing issues
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Coping with change and anxiety management
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Motor skill development
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Problem solving, making decisions + planning
Core Focus on Skill Development
Life skills are very complex tasks, which require specific teaching and plenty of practice. At Karma Country Camp we want our campers to have fun while also developing these critical skills for future development.
Thinking Skills:
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Creativity and imagination
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Problem solving
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Decision making
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Self-knowledge
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Critical thinking
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Assessing and analysing information
Learning Skills:
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Agility and adaptability
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Receiving and giving feedback
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Handling criticism
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Innovation and exploration
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Learner autonomy
Core Life Skills:
Work: pre vocational and employability skills, carrying out responsibilities and managing delegated tasks
Self-care: personal hygiene, grooming and dressing
Leisure: hobbies, sports and community groups
Testimonial
Hi Shawn & Shawna,
Thank your for running an amazing camp program. LJ had a great time attending and enjoyed every minute of it. I am grateful that he had something to do during the day while I was a work.
I felt comfortable sending him to a safe place with people who I trusted to take care of him with kindness, patience and understanding of who he is. I'm sure many other participants and their families felt the same.
Thank you for working with me to accommodate my concerns with his behaviours and needs, that meant a lot to me. LJ is already talking about attending next year - definitely keep us on the mailing list.
Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for this wonderful and exciting camp experience for LJ - I appreciate it very much.
LJ'S Mom
OUR FOUNDERs
SHAWNA AKERMAN
Shawna Akerman has been dedicated to helping people shape better lives for themselves through her vast experience in conflict resolution and advocacy. As a mother of two deaf children she personally knows the challenges that can be encountered when parents face unique circumstances and the results of those efforts were recently featured on the CBC. Her career includes twenty years as a Special Needs Educator, creator and founder of Karma Country Camp (Non-Profit) and a successful Psychotherapy Practice embedded in the Karma Cares Community.
Shawna has a natural level of empathy and human connection that resonates with everyone she works with. Her focus is on supporting people with Autism and mental challenges to live better lives and achieve goals for positive change.
Our collective goal is to provide a unique summer experience for our campers through fun and skill based activities. We also hope to create a community of families with the focus on advocacy for education, funding and young adults through a work support program.
